Clasp for a bracelet, in particular of a watch

ABSTRACT

The invention relates a folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowing different radii of curvature of the clasp when it is in the closed position, said clasp comprising a first blade (1) arranged to rest entirely on the wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade (2) arranged to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp, the first and second blades (1, 2) being articulated with respect to one another at a first end (3), the free end of the first blade (1) having an articulation (4) for articulating a first strand (5) of a wristlet or a third blade (6), the free end (7) of the second blade (2) being arranged to receive a second strand (8) of a wristlet. Each blade (1, 2, 6) is composed separate and interchangeable independent links (10) arranged so as to create a pivoting angle between two successive links (10) of between 20° and 50°.

The present invention relates to the field of wristlets, in particularfor watches. More particularly, it relates to a folding buckle clasp fora wristlet that allows different radii of curvature.

Folding buckle clasps are well known for their esthetic appearance.However, some folding buckles can make a watch uncomfortable if theircurvature is not adapted to the user's wrist circumference. Their lengthcan also be problematic: the rigidity of the blades of the buckle can bean inconvenience since they can extend up to the sides of the user'swrist. The thickness of the buckle can also cause inconvenience ordiscomfort. The clasp of a folding buckle is bulkier than that of a pinbuckle, and this is especially true if the watch is large.

By contrast to the folding buckle, the pin buckle is much thinner anddoes not generate any discomfort caused by rubbing. This point isimportant, particularly for individuals with small wrists.

EP1437952 describes a wristlet clasp comprising a first blade, a secondblade articulated with the first blade, and a cover. The cover comprisesa housing and a hood closing the cover. The housing has solid walls. Theblades are interleaved one with the other so as to be in the same planein the closed position. It is mentioned that the blades may for examplebe flexible but the mechanism implemented to keep the clasp closedrequires not just blades of a certain thickness but also of a certainrigidity.

CH709911 describes a folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowingdifferent radii of curvature when the clasp is in the closed position.The clasp comprises a first and a second blade articulated with respectto one another at a first end. The free end of the first blade has anarticulation for articulating a first strand of a wristlet. The claspmoreover comprises a buckle that is articulated at the free end of thesecond blade and is arranged so as to receive a second strand of awristlet. The first and second blades comprise a first, flexible partand a second, rigid part. The rigid and flexible parts are produced onthe basis of different materials or the same material, but with inherentproperties of differing rigidity and flexibility. This implementationrequires great control of the materials, in particular in terms ofassociating the material with different properties.

EP3420839 describes a folding blade clasp for a wristlet that comprisesa rigid base blade with a second blade made of two or three elements.This implementation makes it possible to optimize the surface area forthe passage of a wearer's hand in the open position but does not addressthe problem of maximum adaptability to small wrists.

The aim of the present invention is to propose an extensible clasp for awristlet that has the advantage of offering a possibility of very greatflexibility when the clasp is in the closed position and that isintended to adapt immediately and comfortably to a wearer's wrist, inparticular for individuals with small wrists.

By contrast to the implementations of the prior art, the presentinvention thus allows flexibility of the assembly of blades of a claspand offers perfect adaptation to large or small wrists, thus eliminatingthe traditional dimensions of men's, women's or medium models.

In accordance with the present invention, a folding buckle clasp for awristlet allowing different radii of curvature of the clasp when it isin the closed position comprises a first blade arranged to rest entirelyon the wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade arranged torest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp. The first and secondblades are articulated with respect to one another at a first end, thefree end of the first blade having an articulation for articulating afirst strand of a wristlet or a third blade. The free end of the secondblade is arranged to receive a second strand of a wristlet. Each firstblade has two elongate, parallel and spaced-apart arms for forming anelongate recess, each arm being articulated at each end and also havingat least one intermediate articulation dividing the arm into multiplesections forming articulated links, the articulation axes all beingparallel and transverse to said arms, each arm being arranged so as toform a pivot angle between two successive links of between 20° and 50°,for example.

Each blade is preferably composed of interchangeable and separate,independent articulated links arranged so as to form a pivot anglebetween two successive links of between 20° et 50°.

In one embodiment, the first blade is provided with an elongate recess,the second blade and optionally the third blade being arranged to nestinside the recess along the longitudinal edges of the first blade.

In a variant of this embodiment, each first blade has two elongate,parallel and spaced-apart arms for forming said elongate recess, eacharm being articulated at each end and also having at least oneintermediate articulation dividing the arm into multiple articulatedsections. Of course, the articulation axes are all parallel andtransverse to the arms.

In another embodiment, each articulated link is connected to an adjacentarticulated link via pins or via screws.

In one embodiment, the clasp is arranged so as to receive a fixing capfor a wristlet.

The clasp preferably has a closing/opening system disposed on the firstand second blades or on the first, second and third blades to lock saidblades or to unlock them so that they can be unfolded.

According to this preferential embodiment, the clasp has three blades,the first blade acting as central support, the second and the thirdblade being articulated at the respective ends of the first blade andbeing able to fold down over the latter, the closing and opening meansfor closing and opening the clasp being arranged on the central part ofthe first blade so as to lock the second and third blade against thefirst blade and to unlock the second and third blade from the firstblade so that they can be unfolded.

In a variant of this preferential embodiment, the clasp has two blades,the first blade being arranged to receive a strand of a wristlet and thesecond blade being arranged to receive a pin buckle.

The features of the invention will become more clearly apparent fromreading the description of multiple nonlimiting embodiments given solelyby way of example, with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a clasp with three blades accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a clasp with three blades;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a clasp with two blades; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a clasp with two blades.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , an extensible clasp for a wristletthat offers significant flexibility when the clasp is in the closedposition, and is intended to be worn by individuals with small wrists,makes it possible to adapt immediately and comfortably to the wearer'swrist. The folding buckle clasp allows the clasp to have different radiiof curvature when the clasp is in the closed position. The claspcomprises a first and a second blade 1, 2 articulated with respect toone another at a first end 3. The free end of the first blade 1 has anarticulation 4 for articulating a first strand 5 of a third blade 6 atthe free end 7 of the second blade 2, which is arranged to receive asecond strand 8 of a wristlet. Each blade 1, 2, 6 also hasinterchangeable and separate, independent articulated links 10 arrangedso as to form a pivot angle between two successive links 10 of between20° et 50°.

In this example, the clasp has three blades 1, 2, 6, the first blade 1acting as central support, the second and the third blade 2, 6 beingarticulated at the respective ends of the first blade 1 and being ableto fold down over the latter. Closing and opening means 12 for closingand opening the clasp are arranged on the central part of the firstblade 1 so as to lock the second and the third blade 2, 6 against thefirst blade 1 and to unlock the second and the third blade 2, 6 from thefirst blade 1 so that they can be unfolded.

The first blade 1 is provided with an elongate recess 11, the secondblade 2 and optionally the third blade 6 being arranged to nest insidethe recess 11 along the longitudinal edges 1A, 1B of the first blade 1.

Each articulated link 10 is connected to an adjacent articulated linkvia pins or screws, arranged so as to receive a fixing cap for awristlet. (Not illustrated)

The clasp has a closing/opening system 9 disposed on the first andsecond blades 1, 2 or on the first, second and third blades to lock orunlock said blades 1, 2, 6 so that they can be unfolded.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the clasp has two blades 1, 2, thefirst blade 1 being arranged to receive a strand of a wristlet and thesecond blade 2 being arranged to receive a pin buckle.

The width of each link 10 of the first blade is less than the width ofthe second or of the third blade.

Such a clasp may be incorporated in a wristlet, a piece of jewelry or awatch.

It is entirely conceivable to associate adjustment mechanisms or anyother closing/opening mechanism known from the prior art with thesetypes of articulated link clasps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowingdifferent radii of curvature of the clasp when it is in the closedposition, said clasp comprising: a first blade (1) arranged to restentirely on the wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade (2)arranged to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp, the firstand second blades (1, 2) being articulated with respect to one anotherat a first end (3), the free end of the first blade (1) having anarticulation (4) for articulating a first strand (5) of a wristlet or athird blade (6), the free end (7) of the second blade (2) being arrangedto receive a second strand (8) of a wristlet, characterized in that eachfirst blade (1) has two elongate, parallel and spaced-apart arms forforming an elongate recess, each arm being articulated at each end andalso having at least one intermediate articulation dividing the arm intomultiple sections forming articulated links, the articulation axes allbeing parallel and transverse to said arms, each arm being arranged soas to form a pivot angle between two successive links (10) of between20° and 50°, for example.
 2. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, the firstblade (1) being provided with an elongate recess (11), a second blade(2) and optionally a third blade (6) being articulated and arranged tonest inside the recess (11) along the longitudinal edges (1A, 1B) of thefirst blade (1).
 3. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, each articulatedlink (10) being connected to an adjacent articulated link via pins orvia screws.
 4. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, arranged to receive afixing cap for a wristlet.
 5. The clasp claimed claim 1, having aclosing/opening system (9) disposed on the first and second blades (1,2) or on the first, second and third blades to lock said blades (1, 2,6) or to unlock them so that they can be unfolded.
 6. The clasp asclaimed in claim 5, having three blades (1, 2, 6), the first blade (1)acting as central support, the second and the third blade (2, 6) beingarticulated at the respective ends of the first blade (1) and being ableto fold down over the latter, the closing and opening means (12) fordosing and opening the clasp being arranged on the central part of thefirst blade (1) so as to lock the second and third blade (2, 6) againstthe first blade (1) and to unlock the second and third blade (2, 6) fromthe first blade (1) so that they can be unfolded.
 7. The clasp asclaimed in claim 1, having two blades (1, 2), the first blade (1) beingarranged to receive a strand of a wristlet and the second blade (2)being arranged to receive a pin buckle.
 8. The clasp as claimed in claim1, the width of each link (10) of the first blade being lower than thewidth of the second or of the third blade.
 9. A wristlet having theclasp as claimed in claim
 1. 10. A piece of jewelry having the wristletas claimed in claim
 8. 11. A watch having the wristlet as claimed inclaim 8.